Harvest Festival: A Convivial Celebration of Community.

Words by Jacob McCormack.

*This land is Wadawurrung Country, the people known to belong to the water, Freshwater creek is part of Wadawurrung Country and a connection to Wadawurrung’s Sea Country. We value and acknowledge the thousands of Generations of Wadawurrung people, their Traditional ways of caring for country, their Knowledge, Language, traditions, beliefs, customs and values, and their continuing responsibility and commitment for recognition, care of country, water, language, all things living and belonging to their cultural values and Traditions.

Wadawurrung knowledge, Language and footprints have been embedded in these lands for tens of thousands of years, their Ancestors of the past, Elders of today and continuing generations committed to their present and future, Freshwater creek is lined with remanent old River Red gum trees that have lined the creek since Wadawurrung people traditional lived on this land and sustained life from their knowledge and resources.

Nyatne baa Gobata (thank you and take care)*.

*Words provided by the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.

Since its inception Common Ground Project (CGP) has set out to be a place for community to gather, with food acting as meridian. Yet the significance of Freshwater Creek spans back eons to the traditional custodians of the land, the Wadawurrung. The Wadawurrung identify Freshwater Creek as “Wadawurrung Country, the people known to belong to the water, Freshwater creek is part of Wadawurrung Country and a connection to Wadawurrung’s Sea Country.”

As the River Red Gums nearby the site of CGP act as a representation of the continuation of culture and story it’s important to acknowledge that in these trees, but also the privilege that has come through the devastation of colonialism we are able to share this land with that story. And so, to as employees, volunteers, visitors, community members, growers and eaters alike all being woven into the story of Common Ground Project, each individual in a collectivised sense plays a role in the stewardship of this land, as well as ensuring story can continue going forwards.

In its inaugural year, Harvest Festival, that took place on Sunday November 3, acted as a new type of story layered upon the land of Freshwater Creek. A coalescence of community that brought together 15 producers stalls, a plethora of musicians, workshops led by Patrick from Farm to Ferment and Tom and Cameron from Bellarine Fungi, as well as a panel discussion facilitated by local growers. The day acting as an ode to the importance of fostering and nurturing a localised food system. A food system that doesn’t solely rely on specific methods of farming designed to improve the health of the soil and nutrient density of produce, but for the relationships established upon the land with which it takes place, that is with human and the more-than-human, all entangled.

The day came to be through the acquisition of a grant from AgVic. A day that bellowed convivial splendour, soundtracked by the warmth of Spring sun. The premise to “increase consumption of Victorian food and beverage,” outlined by AgVic underpinning it all.

And it proved to be all that and then some. The program Staying Grounded – a community driven operation that provides training and employment pathways in farming and hospitality for people facing disadvantage in the Geelong region, specifically, women from asylum seeker and immigrant communities – sold out of their Afghani Bolani and Iraqi dolma very early in the day. A representation of the sheer number of attendees at the festival, a figure that amassed to a crowd of close to 2000 – well beyond the predicted amount.

This program not only acts as one prong of the broader CGP operation, reflecting the fundamental knowing that regenerative agriculture is far more holistic than the farming itself, but it also further accentuates the breadth and depth of the local community. A community that gathered at the site over the course of the day to celebrate the burgeoning local food system of this region.

The women cooking the delectable and culturally appropriate Bolani were Noor Jan and Karima, whilst Lina and Farah were responsible for making the Dolma (stuffed grape vines) sourced from local grapevines around the area.

Noor Jan cooking Bolani.

There was other food on offer too as Fiona from Unearthed Produce was selling her moreish garlic paste, that she makes herself from the garlic she grows, as well as chicken kebabs. Local bakers Ketbaker were selling their tantilising selection of breads and baked goods. Whilst Lardass were distributing their assortment of butter-based products, both of which sold out before the day was over.

Ryo from Obodoro Tofu was offering matcha spritz’ as well as selling his signature surf-coast sea water tofu. New market gardeners Ash and Riz from Wildfields Farm brought their produce to the festival in what was only their second-ever market. All the while Jala Jala Treats were offering their goods, bushfoods and allowing for tastings and chats aplenty.

The other producers with stalls for the day, in celebration of the local food system, were the delightful Tom and Bridie from Kinsfolk Farm, James from the unique operation at Farm My School, Tom and Cameron from Bellarine Fungi, Riona from Bellagreen Farm, Ben from Birdland Seeds, Steve from Geelong Region Olive Collective, Mark from Two Creeks Apiary, Ivan from Dalpura Farm and Jill and Kristy from Yan Yan Gurt West Farm.

Because of the funding secured each of the stall holders were able to be paid to come along, a significant, yet necessary offering to the small-scale producers in the area for whom in this paradigm monetary value on regenerative agriculture isn’t as emphasised as it could be. Alongside profits made by stallholders, particularly those who sold out, it acted as an encouraging day for the process and application that these growers uphold in their devotion to regenerative agriculture. As they all play a fundamental role in leading us towards a future whereby all that we eat, grow and share is directly sourced from a practice that heals the land with the hands of those that participate in such. To then allow for the creation of a holistic and intentional food system that threads us all together into a vibrant tapestry. And the very enaction of this reflected a tangible and direct expression of all that the Food Hub team (Amy Tacey, Madeline Hogan and Hannah Opaluch) at CGP have been working towards, the behind-the-scenes endeavours put on display in a day of festoon.

The festival also saw two workshops take place. One of which was an introduction to the basics of fermentation led by Patrick from Farm to Ferment - a business sprouting out of his passion for minimising food waste and the alchemical wonder of fermenting food. His practice has been inspired by years spent in Berlin working with zero waste and fermentation operations. Patrick has developed a strong relationship with Bridie and Tom from Kinsfolk farm in order to utilise their second-grade produce to make fermented goods, all the while sharing the health benefits and personal fulfilment that comes through fermentation. The connection that has been established only further pronounces the intricacy and overlap of this local food community. The workshop itself was booked out in a matter of hours, and saw a smattering of enthusiastic participants walking away from the workshop with a jar of fermented veggies supplied by Kinsfolk, CGP and Bellagreen Farm, most of which were second-grade produce or ‘waste’.

The next workshop allowed for Bellarine Fungi to show people how to grow their own oyster mushrooms at home, all the while sharing the beauty and magic of fungi – a world so fascinating and so mystical. Fungi possess an innate ability to sequester toxins and generate energy from such, in a way analogical to the application of regenerative agriculture, to an extent that actually alchemises toxicity into immune boosting properties when we consume them. It’s hard to not be deeply passionate about their properties and disposition, the traits that Tom from Bellarine Fungi has come to love over the years and was able to share throughout the course of the festival. He described the day as one of if not the best of his life, as he was able to play drums in a band, sell mushrooms, teach people how to grow mushrooms and talk on a panel about the local food system. An epitome of the multi-layered nature that regenerative agriculture embodies.

All of this took place whilst musical performances acted as a centre point for the day. It was a lineup teeming with local talent that saw Daniel Aaron, Seal Prince and the Roof Rats, Axis Mundi, Baraka the Kid, Jasmin Adria, Isabelle Reynolds, White Flower Society and Mariah Jayne all play separate sets. But there was a particularly special moment during Axis Mundi’s performance, which was another emblematic expression of the potency of community and connection – something that CGP so effortlessly draws forth – and that was when Baraka the Kid came onto the stage with Axis Mundi. What unfurled was the totally spontaneous and improvisational, you have to be there in the moment type experience, whereby Baraka freestyled some lyrics in flow with the band’s instrumental work. It was a true joy and represented a beautiful example of the innate connectivity in music, adding another fibre to the importance of Harvest Festival and what the intention behind the day and the extended operation of Common Ground Project is.

In its essence Common Ground Project acts as a gathering place for community in its geography but also in the way it enables, empowers and strives to reshape the food system of the Geelong/Surf Coast region. Events like Harvest Festival are and can be a way to celebrate this, and further expand upon the nurturing of a type of food community so connected to the land and each other. A food community built upon the foundations of reciprocity, resilience and agency.